STATE 


DOCUMENTS 
DEPT. 


TWO    PLANS 


PROTECTI1  THE  CITY  OF 


OVERFLOW    WATER, 


IMPROVING  NAVIGATION  OF  PETALUMA  CREEK, 


BY 

J.  R.  PRICE,  C.  E.,  CHIEF  ENGINEER,  and 
M.  A.  NURSE,  ASSISTANT  ENGINEER, 

Of  the  California  Department  of  Public  Works. 


BEENG  A  SURVEY  CARRIED    ON    UNDER  AUTHORITY  OF    COMMISSIONER    OF    PUBLIC   WORKS.] 


SACRAMENTO: 

A.  j.  JOHNSTON,    ::::::    SUPERINTENDENT  STATE  PRINTING. 

1896. 


: 


DEPARTMENT  OF  PUBLIC  WORKS. 


ED.  E.  LEAKE .Commissioner. 

J.  R.  PRICE ..Engineer-in-Chief. 

M.  A.  NURSE... Assistant  Engineer. 

JUDSON  BRUSIE,  Secretary  and  Attorney. 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL. 


SACRAMENTO,  CAL.,  December  14,  1895. 

HON.  JAMES  H.  BUDD,  Governor  of  the  State  of  California: 

DEAR  SIR:  I  submit  herewith  a  report  of  the  Chief  Engineer,  and  his 
Assistant,  of  the  office  of  the  Commissioner  of  Public  Works — two  plans 
for  protecting  the  City  of  Petaluma  and  adjacent  country  from  the  over- 
flow water  of  Petaluma  Creek  and  certain  tributaries,  and  for  improving 
navigation,  by  correcting  the  channel  of  said  creek. 

The  preliminary  examination  and  the  subsequent  surveys  were  made 
in  compliance  with  your  request,  based  upon  an  application  received 
from  the  City  Trustees  of  the  City  of  Petaluma. 

After  a  careful  examination  of  the  topography  of  the  country  affected 
by  the  flood-waters,  the  Commissioner  and  Engineers  concluded  that  it 
would  be  possible  to  devise  a  plan  for  practical  and  substantial  relief  at 
a  reasonable  cost. 

At  a  subsequent  public  meeting,  attended  by  all  the  prominent 
business  men  and  property  owners  of  Petaluma,  reliable  information 
was  furnished  to  the  representatives  of  this  office  which  emphasized  the 
necessity  for  the  perfection  and  submission  of  such  plan,  or  plans,  with 
as  little  delay  as  possible,  and  the  Engineers  were  directed  to  proceed 
with  the  work. 

Their  report  is  very  elaborate,  and  treats  of  every  aspect  of  the  prob- 
lem in  minute  detail.  It  is  cogent  in  statement,  systematic  in  arrange- 
ment, and  explicit  in  the  solutions  offered.  The  calculations  are  made 
with  arithmetical  precision,  and  the  estimates  are  based  upon  conditions 
with  which  the  Engineers  are  thoroughly  familiar.  The  maps  and 
drawings  accompanying  the  report  were  prepared  with  great  care,  and 
are  absolutely  accurate. 

No  plan  can  possibly  succeed  that  does  not  involve  the  correction  of 
the  channel  of  Petaluma  Creek.  Such  correction  will  vastly  improve 
navigation,  and  should  be  promoted  by  Government  aid.  If  the  report 
meets  with  your  indorsement  and  approval,  it  is  urged  that  you  forward 
the  same  to  the  California  Senators  and  Representatives  in  Congress, 
with  such  further  recommendations  as  you  may  deem  proper. 

In  order  to  show  the  importance  of  maintaining  the  navigability  of 
Petaluma  Creek,  I  submit  herewith  some  statistics  compiled  from  infor- 
mation furnished  by  owners  of  vessels,  and  by  the  leading  merchants, 
manufacturers,  and  business  men,  concerning  the  traffic  and  the  amount 
and  value  of  shipments  on  Petaluma  Creek  for  the  year  ending  May 
31st,  1894. 

242667 


4      ,  LI:TTI-:I*  OF  TRAHSMITTAL. 

STATISTICS. 

Articles.  Tons. 

Barley _ 4,050 

Bran  and  mill  feed ._ 6,000 

Brick _ 500 

Butter 5,300 

Coal _ ],845 

Corn 3,650 

Cheese 132 

Cement __ 1,100 

Flour 4,900 

Fruits— green,  2,200;  dried,  245;  canned,  50.    Total, 2,495 

Gasoline 10 

Hay _ 10,000 

Hops _ ._ 65 

Hides. 90 

Ice 75 

Incubators  and  breeders 300 

Iron  and  steel , 285 

Lumber 6,000 

Lumber  (hardwood).. _ 200 

Laths 300 

Lime 670 

Leather 100 

Machinery _ ^  75 

Merchandise,  general 16,500 

Oats _ 1,900 

Oilcake 140 

Pelts ...: 18 

Potatoes _.  7,800 

Pickets _ 65 

Plaster 18 

Pipe,  iron _ ___ 185 

Paving  blocks 1,290 

Shingles 550 

Shakes 200 

Silk— raw,  24;  manufactured,  16;  dye  stuff,  etc.,  48.    Total..  88 

Shells 500 

Solder 5 

Salt _. 1,600 

Stone  and  gravel 2,000 

Tallow 50 

Tin  and  tin  cans 50 

Wheat 17,260 

Wool  and  woolen  goods 1,540 

Eggs 1,021,560  dozen 

Wood 625  cords 

Tan  bark 50  cords 

Wine ... 194,000  gallons 

Brandy.. 14,000  gallons 

Vehicles 600 

Mowers  and  reapers 140 

Horses  and  cattle 4,754 

Colts  and  calves... 520 

Sheep  and  hogs 4,600 

Passengers 12,126       (fare 


Total  estimated  value $11,438,145 


LETTER   OF   TRANSMITTAL.  5 

Petaluma  Creek  insures  for  the  farmers  and  producers  cheap  trans- 
portation, and  its  importance  is  so  apparent  that  any  argument  on  that 
line  is  wholly  unnecessary. 

The  Government  has  made  a  small  appropriation  for  the  improve- 
ment of  the  channel,  but  the  plans  upon  which  this  improvement  is  to 
be  made  will  not  afford  relief  to  Petaluma;  neither  will  they  effect  per- 
manent improvement  of  navigation.  At  best,  the  money  so  expended 
can  afford  only  temporary  relief. 

A  proper  alignment  of  the  channel  should  be  sought  immediately, 
and  property  owners  should  concede  to  the  Government  the  right  of  way 
in  order  that  the  corrections  may  be  made.  Citizens  of  Petaluma,  if 
they  desire  to  maintain  and  keep  open  a  cheap  route  of  transportation, 
should  obtain  these  rights  of  way,  and  should  insist  that  all  future  im- 
provements shall  be  of  a  character  that  will  meet  the  demands  of  the 
commerce  of  the  future,  the  importance  of  which  cannot  be  over- 
estimated. 

The  correction  of  the  alignment  of  Petaluma  Creek,  as  suggested  by 
the  report  of  the  Engineers,  is  an  improvement  that  should  be  made 
from  the  head  of  navigation  to  the  deep  waters  of  San  Pablo  Bay. 

The  importance  of  the  commercial  interests  of  Sonoma  County  de- 
mand that  they  shall  be  fostered  and  protected  and  cheap  transportation 
insured  by  the  maintenance  of  an  open,  well-aligned  deep  waterway. 

These  advantages,  linked  with  the  natural  resources  of  a  fertile  county, 
will  result  in  a  high  development  and  an  immeasurable  prosperity  to 
the  people. 

It  is  not  an  inspiring  sight  to  see  light-draught  passenger  and  freight 
steamers  waiting  for  the  return  of  the  tide  in  order  that  they  may  pass 
in  safety  the  sand  bars  of  a  navigable  stream. 

Petaluma  Creek  is  entirely  within  the  confines  of  tidal  influences,  so 
far  as  navigation  is  concerned,  and,  as  before  stated,  the  commercial 
interests  of  that  portion  of  the  State  are  of  sufficient  importance  to 
warrant  the  rectification  of  the  alignment  of  the  creek,  and  its  excava- 
tion to  a  depth  sufficient  for  a  navigable,  low  tide  waterway. 

Presuming  that  the  commerce  of  Sonoma  County  will  keep  pace  with 
the  increase  in  population,  it  should  not  be  a  difficult  proposition  to 
convince  Congress  of  the  necessity  and  urgency  for  Government  aid  in 
promoting  improvement  and  rectification  of  Petaluma  Creek  on  a  plan 
similar  to  the  one  suggested  in  the  report  of  the  Engineers  for  the  care 
of  flood-waters. 

Respectfully  submitted. 

ED.  E.  LEAKE, 
Commissioner  of  Public  Works. 


REPORT. 


To  HON.  ED.  E.  LEAKE,  Commissioner  of  Public  Works,  State  of  California: 
The  matter  of  survey  and  recommendation  of  plan  for  the  care  of 

flood-waters  in  the  town  of  Petaluma  and  vicinity,  in  Sonoma  County, 

California,  having  been  duly  referred  to  us  for  investigation,  we  beg  to 

submit  the  following  report: 

The  survey  and  field  work  was  commenced  in  the  early  part  of  July 

of  this  year,  and  continued  without  cessation  until  its  completion  in  the 

early  part  of  August. 

The  problem  involved  in  the  case  resolves  itself  into: 

First — The  care  of  flood-waters  of  Petaluma  Creek,  coming  from  a 

drainage  area  of  eighty  (80)  square  miles  of  territory. 

Second — The  care  of  flood-waters  arising  from  the  drainage  area  of 

Reservoir,  Edwards,  and  Thompson  Creeks,  embracing  1,407  acres  of 

drainage  area. 

THE    CAKE    OF   FLOOD-WATERS    OF    PETALUMA    CREEK. 

The  City  of  Petaluma  is  located  at  the  head  of  navigation  on  Petaluma 
Creek,  which  creek,  having  its  source  arising  from  many  small  creeks  in 
the  Coast  Range  Mountains  of  Sonoma  County,  flows  in  a  southeasterly 
course  to  the  Bay  of  San  Pablo. 

Petaluma  City  is,  therefore,  the  principal  shipping  point  for  all  mer- 
chandise either  to  or  from  San  Francisco,  and  the  commercial  center  of 
a  vast  fertile  country  along  the  line  of  Petaluma  Creek,  as  well  as  of 
the  exceedingly  prosperous  Russian  River  Valley. 

Petaluma  Creek  enters  the  city  limits  of  the  City  of  Petaluma  on  the 
northern  boundary  line  of  said  city,  and  winding  along  a  snake-like 
course  passes  on  to  tide-water  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  corporate 
limits  thereof. 

An  inspection  of  the  maps  presented  with  this  report  will  set  forth  a 
clear  conception  of  the  situation. 

From  the  northern  boundary  line  of  the  city  to  the  intersection  of  the 
creek  with  the  S.  F.  &  N.  P.  R.  R.  the  lands  flooded  by  the  excessive 
flow  of  storm-waters  are  of  considerable  acreage,  but  being  for  the  most 
part  unoccupied  by  buildings,  and  used  for  agricultural  purposes,  we  do 
not  recommend  a  plan  for  the  reclamation  of  these  lands,  but  respect- 
fully submit  that  should  a  reclamation  be  desired,  it  can  be  accom- 


PLANS    FOR    PROTECTING    PETALU^IA    FROM    OVERFLOW    WATER. 

plished  by  a  simple  system  of  embankments  with  proper  elevations  and 
grades. 

From  the  crossing  of  the  S.  F.  &  N.  P.  R.  R.  of  Petaluma  Creek  to  the 
east  boundary  line  of  the  city,  the  creek  has  a  very  tortuous  course, 
resulting  in  the  retardation  of  the  flow  of  waters,  and  causing  a  flooding 
of  a  considerable  portion  of  the  City  of  Petaluma  during  flood  seasons. 

Washington  Street,  which  is  the  principal  avenue  used  for  traffic 
between  the  S.  F.  &  N.  P.  R.  R.  depot  and  Main  Street,  has  been 
graded  and  laid  in  basalt  blocks,  which  grading  has  caused  a  closing  of 
the  natural  course  of  flood-water  channel,  forcing  the  water  to  pass 
under  Washington  Street  bridge,  or  over  this  graded  street  in  its  lowest 
elevations.  •  . 

The  waterway  under  Washington  Street  bridge  is  inadequate  to  the 
task  of  conducting  the  flood-waters,  and  hence  at  extreme  flood-periods 
the  water  is  gorged,  until  it  runs  over  said  street  to  the  depth  of  two  and 
one  half  feet.  This  condition  of  things  necessarily  floods  the  lands  above 
Washington  Street  at  times,  endangering  valuable  property  interests. 

So  also  does  the  marked  incapacity  of  the  stream  appear,  from  Wrash- 
ington  Street  to  the  east  boundary  of  the  city,  by  frequent  overflow 
during  flood-periods.  You  will  observe,  by  an  examination  of  the  maps 
herewith  presented,  that  some  of  the  most  valuable  property  of  the  city 
is  simply  at  the  mercy  of  the  waters,  and  a  relief  only  comes  by  a  sub- 
sidence of  floods. 

It  is  to  this  condition  that  we  propose  a  remedy. 

From  careful  surveys  and  all  reliable  data  that  we  can  obtain, 
Petaluma  Creek  at  its  highest  flood-periods  discharges  not  to  exceed 
3,000  cubic  feet  of  water  per  second. 

From  the  same  data,  we  find  that  the  greatest  flow  of  water  under 
Washington  Street  bridge  at  flood-periods  could  not  be  more  than  2,000 
cubic  feet  per  second,  when  at  the  same  time  1,000  cubic  feet  per  second 
must  have  been  running  over  Washington  Street  between  the  bridge  and 
the  S.  F.  &  N.  P.  R.  R.  depot.  Therefore,  no  plan  which  we  can  suggest 
would  safely  dispose  of  the  waters  through  the  present  waterway  pass- 
ing under  Washington  Street  bridge. 

Two  methods  have  suggested  themselves  to  us  for  a  drainage  system 
for  the  flood-waters  of  Petaluma  Creek. 

It  seems  to  be  the  verdict  of  all  who  have  made  an  examination  of 
the  situation,  that  the  water,  if  possible,  should  be  taken  into  a  canal  at 
the  crossing  of  the  S.  F.  &  N.  P.  R.  R.,  and  conducted  thence  down 
Bayles  Street  to  its  intersection  with  Petaluma  Creek,  and  thence  levee 
the  creek  to  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  city. 

With  a  view  to  test  this  theory,  we  made  proper  surveys,  taking  the 
necessary  elevations  and  locating  property  lines  and  improvements  to 
determine  the  probable  cost  and  feasibility  of  the  plan. 


PLANS  FOR  PROTECTING  PETALUMA  FROM  OVERFLOW  WATER.       9 

It  is  found  that  the  property  owners  could  give  sufficient  right  of  way, 
together  with  the  street,  to  enable  the  construction  of  a  canal  one  hun- 
dred (100)  feet  in  width  on  the  grade  line  along  this  route.  But  a  canal 
one  hundred  (100)  feet  in  width,  with  the  grade  that  can  here  be 
obtained,  running  water  five  feet  in  depth,  will  not  safely  conduct  the 
flood-waters  of  Petaluma  Creek.  Indeed,  it  is  safe  to  say  that  such  a 
canal,  with  all  the  fall  that  can  be  given,  will  not  discharge  more  than 
fifteen  hundred  (1,500)  cubic  feet  per  second,  which  we  perceive  is  only 
one  half  of  the  discharge  of  Petaluma  Creek.  But  it  will  be  asked  why 
not  make  it  deeper  or  wider? 

We  observe  that  it  should  not  be  deeper  or  wider,  because  this  would 
involve  the  increase  of  the  elevation  of  the  embankments  to  such  a 
height  as  not  only  to  be  dangerous,  but  extremely  inconvenient  to 
adjoining  property. 

It  cannot  be  made  wider  on  this  route  without  great  damage  to  prop- 
erty and  excessive  cost  for  right  of  way.  If  the  embankments  were 
increased  in  elevation  sufficient  to  make  a  canal  one  hundred  (100)  feet 
on  base  or  grade  line,  carrying  all  the  flood-waters  of  the  Petaluma 
Creek,  then  would  we  be  compelled  to  begin  our  canal  much  farther  up 
the  creek,  or  build  a  dam  at  the  railroad  crossing,  which  is  entirely 
impracticable. 

Therefore,  we  regard  it  as  an  impossibility  to  conduct  all  the  flood- 
waters  of  Petaluma  Creek  through  a  canal  on  Bayles  Street  with  the 
above  dimensions. 

In  an  examination  of  the  causes  of  overflow,  we  find  that  a  very  large 
proportion  of  the  flood-waters  of  Petaluma  Creek  come  from  the  drain- 
age area  of  a  creek  running  down  Washington  Street  produced  to  what 
is  known  as  "  Schoolhouse  Corner,"  a  point  one  mile  and  a  half  north- 
erly from  Washington  Street  bridge;  also  from  a  creek  known  as  "  Lynch 
Creek,''  running  nearly  parallel  with  Washington  Street  Creek,  and 
both  joining  Petaluma  Creek  near  the  northerly  boundary  of  the  town 
of  Petaluma. 

These  creeks  are  drawn  and  delineated  on  a  map  herewith  presented. 

Washington  Creek,  as  it  is  named  on  said  map,  will  discharge  at  flood- 
periods  about  650  cubic  feet  of  water  per  second. 

Lynch  Creek  will  discharge  not  to  exceed  1,000  cubic  feet  of  water  per 
second  during  flood-periods. 

Therefore,  these  two  creeks  produce  at  the  head  of  overflow  at  least 
one  half  of  the  volume  of  flood-waters  required  to  be  cared  for. 

We  have  made  a  preliminary  survey,  and  find  that  these  two  creeks 
can  be  diverted  so  as  to  discharge  their  waters  onto  the  salt  marsh  east 
of  the  town  of  Petaluma  without  entering  the  incorporated  limits  of 
said  town. 


10 


PLANS    FOR    PROTECTING    PETAL!  MA    FROM    OVERFLOW    WATER. 


For  this  reason  we  will  embody  in  this  report  the  probable  cost  of 
construction  of  such  a  scheme,  exclusive  of  cost  of  right  of  way. 

Washington  Street  Creek  and  Lynch  Creek  discharge  a  large  percent- 
age of  the  sediment  to  be  cared  for  in  Petaluma  Creek,  by  virtue  of  their 
close  proximity  to  the  head  of  overflow,  and  we  would  suggest,  that 
should  their  waters  be  caused  to  take  the  course  above  referred  to,  the 
sediment  in  Petaluma  Creek  will  be  exceedingly  small,  and  will  be 
easily  cared  for  by  the  velocity  of  the  water  in  Petaluma  Creek. 

Copeland  Creek,  one  of  the  branches  of  the  Russian  River  system,  has 
its  origin  in  the  Coast  Range  Mountains,  northwest  of  the  town  of 
Petaluma  some  eight  or  ten  miles,  and,  flowing  westerly  down  the 
Coast  Range  slope  to  the  Russian  River  Valley,  discharges  its  waters 
onto  the  divide  or  watershed  separating  the  waters  of  Petaluma  Creek 
from  Russian  River. 

At  times  of  greatest  rainfall,  Copeland  Creek  becomes  gorged  to  such 
an  extent  that  a  portion  of  its  waters  separate  from  the  main  channel, 
and  instead  of  flowing  into  Russian  River  take  a  southeasterly  course 
and  join  the  waters  of  Petaluma  Creek. 

This  can  readily  be  prevented  by  a  very  moderate  expenditure  at  the 
point  of  separation  of  the  waters  of  Copeland  Creek,  and  we  earnestly 
recommend  that  it  should  be  done. 

It  is  our  opinion  that  five  hundred  dollars  ($500)  properly  expended 
would  accomplish  the  purpose. 

Having  once  disposed  of  the  flood-waters  of  Washington,  Lynch,  and 
Copeland  Creeks,  other  than  through  the  channel  of  Petaluma  Creek, 
we  feel  secure  in  recommending  a  canal  on  the  line  of  Bayles  Street,  as 
shown  en  maps  herewith  presented,  with  a  width  of  base  of  one  hun- 
dred (100)  feet  and  with  proper  slopes,  and  under  no  other  circumstances. 

We  have  therefore  prepared  profiles  and  made  estimates  of  the  cost  of 
a  canal  based  upon  the  above  conditions,  a  statement  of  which  will 
appear  hereafter  in  this  report,  which  we  will  designate  as  the  Bayles 
Street  System. 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  a  great  many  obstacles  might  confront  the 
Bayles  Street  scheme,  we  have  made  a  critical  examination  of  the  case 
in  order  that  we  might  find  some  other  line  of  relief — one  that  would 
safely  care  for  all  of  the  flood-waters  of  Petaluma  Creek  without  resort- 
ing to  canals  or  construction  works  outside  of  the  corporate  limits  of 
the  town. 

We  find  that  a  canal  of  proper  dimensions  can  be  constructed  on  a 
line  laid  down  on  the  maps  herewith  presented,  and  marked  and 
designated  by  the  red  lines  on  said  maps. 

This  canal  will  have  for  its  initial  point  the  crossing  of  the  S.  F.  &  N. 
P.  R.  R.  with  Petaluma  Creek  and  run  thence  across  the  flooded  portion 
of  the  town  to  a  point  about  150  feet  east  of  the  easterly  side  of  Wash- 


PLANS  FOR  PROTECTING  PETALUMA  FROM  OVERFLOW  WATER.      11 

ington  Street  bridge  crossing  Petaluma  Creek,  and  thence  gently  curving 
to  the  left,  making  an  easy  entrance  to  Petaluma  Creek,  as  shown  on 
maps  herewith  presented. 

It  will  require  a  canal  125  feet  in  width  on  the  base  or  grade  line, 
with  side  slopes  three  horizontal  to  one  vertical,  and  running  a  depth 
of  five  (5)  feet  of  water,  with  a  fall  of  .07  of  a  foot  to  100  feet,  to  dis- 
charge 3,000  cubic  feet  per  second,  which  is  the  maximum  flow  of 
Petaluma  Creek. 

We  have  made  estimates  of  probable  cost  of  such  a  canal  on  the  lines 
designated  in  red  on  said  maps,  a  comprehensive  statement  of  which 
will  be  hereafter  given. 

You  will  observe  by  an  examination  of  the  location  of  buildings  and 
other  improvements  as  shown  on  the  maps,  that  it  is  somewhat  difficult 
to  lay  down  on  the  ground  a  canal  that  will  cause  the  minimum  damage 
to  property  interests,  and  at  the  same  time  obtain  a  good  waterway. 

With  these  paramount  principles  in  view,  we  have  sought  to  make  a 
location  which  would  dispose  of  the  flood-waters,  and  at  the  same  time 
cause  the  least  damage  to  property. 

THE    BAYLES    STREET   SYSTEM. 

The  main  waterway  or  canal  in  the  Bayles  Street  system  will  have 
for  its  initial  point  the  crossing  of  the  S.  F.  &  N.  P.  R.  R.  with  Petaluma 
Creek.  Thence  curving  gently  to  the  left,  as  indicated  on  the  map  in 
blue  lines,  until  the  center  line  becomes  tangent  to  a  line  on  Bayles 
Street,  and  follow  the  same,  as  shown  on  map  herewith  presented. 

The  width  of  the  canal  on  base  or  grade  line  is  established  at  100  feet. 
Side  slopes,  except  where  concrete  retaining  walls  are  required,  shall  be 
three  horizontal  to  one  vertical.  Crown  of  embankments  8  feet  in 
width,  and  of  a  uniform  elevation  of  2  feet  above  the  surface  of  water  in 
canal.  Embankments  to  have  not  less  than  three  horizontal  to  one 
vertical  side  slope.  The  uniform  grade  of  the  canal  shall  be  .007  per 
running  foot,  descending  from  the  initial  point  to  its  intersection  with 
the  center  line  of  G  Street  on  Petaluma  Creek.  The  elevation  of  grade 
line  at  the  initial  point  being  11.38. 

All  embankments  on  the  line  of  Petaluma  Creek  must  be  so  con- 
structed as  to  conform  to  this  grade. 

No  filling  in  will  be  made  to  obstruct  navigation;  on  the  contrary,  a 
complete  system  of  embankments  on  either  side  of  the  creek  must  be 
constructed  to  the  head  of  navigation,  so  as  to  prevent  any  possible 
damage  from  overflow.  An  embankment  will  be  made  at  Washington 
Street  crossing  of  Petaluma  Creek,  to  prevent  the  flooding  of  lands  north 
and  west  of  Washington  Street. 

From  the  point  where  Bayles  Street  now  enters  Petaluma  Creek,  to  a 
point  100  feet  northerly  from  the  north  line  of  Washington  Street,  the 


12      PLANS  FOR  PROTECTING  PETALUMA  FROM  OVERFLOW  WATER. 

canal  will  require  concrete  retaining  walls  on  either  side  thereof,  whose 
upper  surface  shall  conform  to  the  grade  of  the  crown  of  the  embank- 
ments of  said  canal,  and  of  sufficient  depth  to  rest  upon  the  hardpan 
bottom  of  the  canal. 

One  pile  bridge  at  -the  intersection  of  the  canal  and  Washington 
Street  must  be  constructed  for  the  accommodation  of  traffic. 

The  canal  must  be  protected  from  cutting  of  embankments  at  the 
initial  point  by  a  systematic  riprap  of  rock  work. 

From  the  intersection  of  Bayles  Street  with  Petaluma  Creek  to  the 
center  of  G  Street,  each  bank  of  said  creek  must  be  raised  to  a  uniform 
grade,  as  heretofore  referred  to,  by  excavating  earth  from  the  present 
channel  of  the  creek  and  placing  the  same  on  either  embankment. 

It  is  here  assumed  that  this  earth  work  on  Petaluma  Creek  will  be 
constructed  by  dredging,  while  all  other  earth  work  must  be  constructed 
and  excavated  with  horse-scrapers. 

We  therefore  have  the  following  statement  of  possible 

Cost  of  Construction  of  the  "Bayles  Street  System." 
(Exclusive  of  cost  of  right  of  way.) 

Improvement  of  Copeland  Creek $50000 

Diversion  of  Washington  and    Lynch  Creeks — 34,517 

cubic  yards  earth  work,  at  9  cents $3,106  53 

180  feet  bridging 90000 

4,006  53 

Bayles  Street  Canal — 

16,500  cubic  yards  excavation,  at  12  cents $1,980  00 

10,843  cubic  yards  embankment,  at  9  cents 975  87 

22,500  cubic  feet  concrete  walls _ 5,625  00 

100  feet  pile  bridge,  40  feet  wide _ 1,000  00 

4,000  cubic  yards  fill  for  Washington  Street,  at  25  cents     1,000  00 

Superintending  and  engineering _.     1,000  00 

11,580  87 

Total  cost  of  construction.. $16,087  40 

Cost  of  Canal  System  within  Corporate  Limits. 
(Exclusive  of  right  of  way.) 

23,430  cubic  yards  excavation,  at  12  cents $2,811  60 

21,461  cubic  yards  embankment,  at  10  cents 2,146  10 

15,099  cubic  yards  embankment  on  creek,  at  9  cents 1,358  91 

13,000  cubic  feet  concrete  at  Washington  Street  crossing _.  3,333  33 

132  feet  pile  bridge,  40  feet  wide 1,320  00 

4,000  cubic  yards  earth  filling  at  Washington  Street  crossing 1,000  00 

Superintending  and  engineering _ 1,000  00 

Total  cost  of  construction... $12,969  94 

In  the  estimate  of  the  cost  of  construction  of  the  last  above-named 
canal,  it  will  be  observed  that  we  have  included  an  item  of  $3,333  33 
for  concrete  work  where  said  canal  crosses  Washington  Street.  It  may 
be  found  advisable  to  increase  the  bridge  work  and  exclude  the  concrete 
work.  In  that  event  the  above  estimate  could  be  reduced  in  the  sum  of 


PLANS  FOR  PROTECTING  PETALUMA  FROM  OVERFLOW  WATER.      13 

$3,000,  making  the  total  cost  $9,969  94,  on  the  line  as  laid  down  in  red 
on  the  maps  herewith  presented. 

We  would  recommend  the  work  on  Copeland  Creek  to  be  done,  no 
matter  which  system  be  adopted.  It  is  possible  that  by  neglect,  the 
whole  of  the  flood-waters  of  Copeland  Creek  may  change  their  course 
and  join  Petaluma  Creek  in  place  of  taking  their  proper  channel  into 
Russian  River.  Should  such  a  condition  be  permitted  to  obtain,  the 
danger  to  destruction  of  property  in  the  town  of  Petaluma  will  be  great 
and  the  consequences  extremely  disastrous. 

We  therefore  earnestly  urge  upon  the  property  owners  of  the  town  of 
Petaluma  to  leave  no  time  pass,  nor  winter  season  come,  before  the 
proper  remedy  is  applied  to  this  evil. 

It  will  not  be  out  of  place  for  us  to  remark,  before  dismissing  this 
subject — the  Bayles  Street  System  and  other  system — that  the  question 
of  right  of  way  will,  in  all  probability,  cut  a  very  large  figure  in  the 
determination  of  the  location  of  any  line  of  improvements. 

We  believe,  however,  that  a  canal  located  as  shown  by  the  parallel 
red  lines  on  the  maps  herewith  presented,  within  the  corporate  limits  of 
the  city,  will  more  readily  satisfy  the  condition  for  least  cost  for  con- 
struction and  for  right  of  way,  and  at  the  same  time  perform  all  the 
work  required  to  give  a  speedy  and  proper  relief. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  grade  of  the  embankments  being  two,  (2) 
feet  above  the  grade  of  the  surface  of  the  proposed  flood-waters,  the 
canal  can  be  relied  upon  to  safely  conduct  more  than  3,000  cubic  feet  of 
water  per  second. 

The  embankments  must,  however,  be  maintained  at  their  original 
grade,  and  the  canal  perfectly  clear  of  all  obstructions. 

THE  CARE  OF  WATERS  OF  RESERVOIR,  EDWARDS,  AND  THOMPSON  CREEKS. 

Reservoir,  Edwards,  and  Thompson  Creeks  are  three  small  creeks  hav- 
ing their  watersheds  south  of  the  City  of  Petaluma,  and,  flowing  in  a 
northerly  direction,  deliver  their  waters  into  the  residence  portion  of 
said  city.  Coming  as  they  do  from  an  abrupt,  hilly  watershed,  they 
rush  from  the  canons  that  confine  them,  with  torrential  velocity,  to  a 
gentle  sloping  watershed,  where  they  must  necessarily  spread  beyond 
natural  confines  in  flood-periods. 

Indeed,  the  sedimentary  deposit  from  each  creek  is  sufficient  to  fill 
the  old  channels  on  the  gentler  slopes,  so  as  to  render  their  capacity 
almost  useless. 

From  data  obtained  from  the  City  Clerk's  office  of  the  City  of  Peta- 
luma, we  learn  that  Reservoir  Creek  has  a  drainage  area  above  D, 
E,  F,  and  G  Streets  of  87  acres;  Edwards  Creek,  417  acres;  Thomp- 
son Creek,  903  acres;  making  1,407  acres  of  drainage  land  for  all  three 
of  these  creeks. 


14      PLANS  FOR  PROTECTING  PETALUMA  FROM  OVERFLOW  WATER. 

It  seems,  therefore,  that  it  is  but  a  small  problem  to  solve;  yet  when 
we  consider  the  conditions  that  here  present  themselves,  the  problem 
grows  in  importance,  until  it  becomes  a  very  serious  question  to  the 
City  of  Petaluma. 

Entering  the  corporate  limits  of  this  city  at  an  elevation  of  50  feet  or 
more  above  low  tide,  and  having  a  distance  of  not  more  than  4,000  feet 
to  run  to  tide  water,  the  consequences  can  readily  be  imagined,  when 
600  or  700  cubic  feefc  of  water  per  second  is  dashed  upon  the  most  thickly 
populated  portion  of  the  city. 

Sewers  constructed  for  ordinary  city  drainage  purposes  become  gorged 
beyond  their  capacity,  and  with  hydraulic  pressure  throw  off  the  man- 
hole covers,  producing  an  exit  instead  of  an  entrance  for  storm-waters. 

Bewildered  in  the  maze  of  circumstances,  the  city  authorities  have 
caused  a  portion  of  F  Street  to  be  laid  in  basalt  blocks,  with  a  hope  of 
conducting  the  surplus  waters  down  this  street.  The  street  is  of  the 
usual  form,  having  of  necessity  but  a  small  water  capacity,  perhaps  a 
sufficient  capacity  to  conduct  the  waters  of  the  smallest  of  these  creeks 
to  tide  water. 

It  seems  that  the  error  has  been  committed  here,  that  is  so  often 
met  with  in  the  State,  of  underestimating  the  flow  of  storm-waters. 
Ordinary  rains  or  ordinary  floods  are  not  what  we  should  aim  to  con- 
trol, but  the  extreme  flood-periods  are  those  that  cause  the  greatest 
destruction  to  property. 

Therefore,  the  Engineer,  if  he  desires  to  cure  the  disease,  must  apply 
the  proper  remedy,  which  in  this  case  can  only  be  a  waterway  of  ample 
capacity  to  control  the  flood-waters  of  any  storm  that  it  is  reasonable  to 
expect. 

Temporary  relief  may  be  obtained  by  individual  property  owners  by 
widening  or  deepening  the  old  channel  of  Thompson  Creek,  but  certain 
it  is  that  it  is  only  temporary. 

The  earthen  channel,  conducting  water  running  at  the  rate  of  9  or  10 
feet  per  second,  or  6  or  7  miles  per  hour,  is  at  most  but  a  temporary 
concern,  for,  by  the  nature  of  things,  the  tenacity  of  the  earth  is  totally 
unable  to  withstand  the  force  of  the  impact  produced  by  the  flowing 
waters;  the  result  is,  shoals  and  bars  form,  cutting  and  caving  of  banks 
predominate,  producing  a  winding  or  tortuous  stream,  retarding  the 
flow  of  the  waters,  and  hastening  the  destruction  of  the  original  channel. 

The  citizens  of  Petaluma  must  therefore  bring  themselves  to  a  reali- 
zation of  the  conditions  that  here  present  themselves.  Temporary  work 
should  be  discouraged.  It  is  a  useless  expenditure  of  money  wherein 
one  property  owner  is  only  relieved  to  the  detriment  of  some  fellow 
property  owner,  and,  in  the  end,  there  will  have  been  expended  a  sum  of 
money  sufficient  to  have  constructed  a  systematic  relief,  and  yet  no  relief 
has  been  accomplished. 


PLANS  FOR  PROTECTING  PET  ALUM  A  FROM  OVERFLOW  WATER.      15 

We  have  carefully  examined  the  data  as  to  rainfall  in  the  vicinity  of 
Petaluma,  and  find  that  in  January  and  February  of  the  present  year 
the  greatest  rainfall  was  1.87  inches  for  twenty-four  hours. 

This  quantity  of  water  uniformly  distributed  over  an  area  of  1,407 
acres  of  land  would  be  equivalent  to  1 10  cubic  feet  per  second.  %  This 
would  require  a  very  small  drain-pipe  to  discharge  it,  were  this  the 
actual  amount  of  water  to  be  controlled.  But  under  any  presumption, 
a  portion  of  this  water  would  be  absorbed  by  the  lands  and  a  portion 
disappear  by  evaporation. 

Now  let  us  see  what  was  the  probable  greatest  quantity-  of  water 
presented  at  any  one  time  from  this  drainage  area.  Reservoir  Creek 
discharges  more  than  enough  water  to  fill  the  pipe  at  the  crossing  of 
Sunny  Slope  Avenue,  which  pipe  under  the  most  favorable  circum- 
stances could  not  discharge  more  than  50  cubic  feet  of  water  per  second 
and  not  less  than  40  cubic  feet. 

Edwards  Creek  crosses  under  Sunny  Slope  Avenue  through  a  culvert 
or  drain-pipe,  circular  in  form  and  having  a  capacity,  with  a  head  of  8 
feet,  of  285  cubic  feet  per  second. 

Thompson  Creek,  at  a  point  near  Eighth  Street,  discharges  its  waters 
through  a  channel  whose  capacity  is  estimated  by  us  at  600  cubic  feet 
per  second. 

All  indications  of  high-water  marks  at  the  various  points  above  named 
lead  to  the  inevitable  conclusion  that  these  figures  and  estimates  of 
flow  of  water  are  not  in  excess  of  the  actual  flow  of  water  from  these 
various  sources  during  flood-periods. 

We  therefore  conclude  that  the  record  of  rainfall  is  no  gauge  of  the 
capacity  of  an  aqueduct  required  to  care  for  the  waters  of  the  creeks. 

The  conclusion  must  therefore  be  that  a  heavy  rainfall  occurs  in  a 
very  short  period  of  time,  and  will  require  a  canal  or  storm  sewer  of 
ample  capacity  to  meet  these  sudden  floods. 

Believing,  therefore,  that  we  have,  by  facts  stated  above,  arrived  at  a 
safe  estimate  of  the  flow  of  the  water  from  these  creeks  during  extreme 
storm-periods,  we  conclude  that  a  drainage  system  must  be  constructed 
that  will  satisfy  the  following  conditions : 

Discharge  of  Reservoir  Creek 50  cubic  feet. 

Discharge  of  Edwards  Creek _ _ 300  cubic  feet. 

Discharge  of  Thompson  Creek _ _ _ 600  cubic  feet. 

Total  discharge  __ _ 950  cubic  feet. 

It  may  be  possible  that  the  estimate  above  given  for  Thompson  Creek 
is  somewhat  in  excess  of  the  actual  discharge  of  that  stream,  but  in 
view  of  the  fact  that  the  drainage  system,  wherever  it  may  be  located, 
will  concentrate  all  of  the  waters  of  these  three  creeks  into  one  channel, 
together  with  the  drainage  of  the  watershed  adjoining  its  route,  we  deem 


16      PLANS  FOR  PROTECTING  PETALUMA  FROM  OVERFLOW  WATER. 

it  advisable  to  calculate  the  capacity  of  a  storm  sewer  which  will  dis- 
charge the  amount  of  water  above  stated. 

As  already  stated  in  this  report,  the  velocity  of  water  in  the  creeks 
above  named  is  at  least  9  feet  per  second,  and  in  many  portions  of  the 
channel  it  reaches  a  much  greater  velocity. 

From  the  nature  of  the  topography  of  the  country  over  which  the 
water  passes,  it  will  be  found  impossible,  within  any  degree  of  reasonable 
distance,  to  conduct  these  waters  to  tide  water  through  an  earthen  chan- 
nel with  a  grade  or  fall  sufficiently  gentle  to  prevent  cutting  or  erosion 
of  any  new  channel  that  could  be  constructed. 

If  an  earthen  channel  or  canal  should  be  constructed  on  any  line 
within  the  scope  of  our  survey,  the  result  would  be  a  cutting  and 
destruction  of  the  channel  alignment,  and  finally  the  complete  nullifi- 
cation of  the  objects  desired  to  be  obtained. 

We  therefore  conclude  that  any  system  of  relief  that  may  be  suggested 
with  a  view  to  permanency  should  be  upon  a  plan  which  will  at  all 
times  maintain  the  functions  upon  which  the  system  is  based. 

This  will  require  either  rock  work,  brick  work,  or  wood  work  for  the 
construction  of  any  system  which  should  be  adopted. 

It  appears  to  us  that  the  cheapest  and  most  available  material  at 
hand  will  be  in  the  nature  of  concrete  or  cement  rock  work.  It  is  our 
opinion  that  what  is  known  as  dry  rock  work  will  not  satisfy  the  con- 
ditions here  presented,  being  subject  to  displacement  by  the  force  of  the 
current,  unless  extremely  well  laid. 

Therefore,  we  will  recommend  that  the  storm  sewer  here  proposed  to 
be  constructed  be  laid  in  concrete  work  or  stone  thoroughly  laid  in 
cement  mortar,  except  where  otherwise  designated. 

We  will  present  for  the  consideration  of  the  citizens  of  Petaluma  two 
systems  of  relief,  believing  that  in  so  doing  we  will  illustrate  thoroughly 
the  problem  under  discussion. 

The  first  system  of  relief  that  we  shall  discuss  will  be  a  succession  of 
open  canals  or  storm  sewers,  beginning  on  Sunny  Slope  Avenue  at  its 
intersection  with  D  Street,  and  running  thence  along  the  north  side  of 
Sunny  Slope  Avenue  1,850  feet  more  or  less,  and  thence  curving  gently 
to  the  left  and  delivering  the  waters  of  Reservoir  and  Edwards  Creeks 
into  Thompson  Creek,  as  shown  by  red  lines  on  maps  herewith  presented. 
Thence  conducting  the  waters  of  all  of  these  creeks  through  a  canal  on 
line  as  here  shown  on  map  in  red,  to  tide  water,  at  a  point  on  Petaluma 
Creek  250  feet  west  of  the  easterly  boundary  line  of  the  town  of 
Petaluma. 

The  grade  line  of  the  canal  is  shown  upon  profile  herewith  presented, 
which  refers  at  all  times  to  the  same  datum  plane  used  in  the  survey  of 
relief  canal  for  flood-waters  of  Petaluma  Creek,  heretofore  set  forth  in 
this  report. 


PLANS  FOR  PROTECTING  PET  ALUM  A  FROM  OVERFLOW  WATER.      17 

We  find  that  the  waters  of  Reservoir  Creek  can  be  delivered  into 
Edwards  Creek,  on  Sunny  Slope  Avenue,  with  a  grade  of  4  feet  in  540 
feet,  which  would  require  a  pipe  3 4  feet  in  diameter.  The  cost  of  a  pipe 
with  34  feet  bore  will  be  in  excess  of  five  ($5)  dollars  per  running  foot, 
at  the  same  time  exceedingly  liable  to  dam  up  with  obstructions;  there- 
fore, we  will  recommend  an  open  concrete  sewer  for  this  portion  of  the 
work. 

We  here  recommend  an  open  storm  -sewer  whose  dimensions  will  be 
shown  on  profile,  and  cross-section  adjusted  to  the  various  grades. 

The  waters  of  Reservoir  Creek  will  be  introduced  into  the  canal  or 
storm  sewer  at  Edwards  Creek,  which  canal  will  conduct  the  combined 
waters  of  Reservoir  and  Edwards  Creeks  into  Thompson  Creek,  and  the 
Thompson  Creek  storm  sewer  is  calculated  to  deliver  the  combined 
waters  of  the  three  creeks  into  Petaluma  Creek,  at  the  point  above 
named,  under  all  circumstances  and  without  damage  to  the  City  of 
Petaluma. 

In  order  that  this  system  of  storm  sewers  shall  perform  all  the  work 
assigned'  to  them,  the  interior  surface  must  be  of  concrete  or  material 
that  will  offer  no  greater  resistance  to  the  flow  of  water  than  is  expected 
from  a  concrete  surface. 

Stone  work  faced  with  a  cement  mortar  will  serve  the  same  purpose. 
It  is  upon  this  assumption,  and  this  alone,  that  we  have  been  able  to 
reduce  the  waterway  to  its  minimum  capacity. 

If  any  change  of  grade  or  dimension  of  storm  sewer  should  be  found 
advisable  in  construction,  a  strict  adherence  to  rules  of  calculating 
capacity  for  this  character  of  canal  must  be  observed. 

As  the  dimensions  of  waterway  and  concrete  will  be  found  in  cross- 
section  on  profile  herewith  presented,  we  regard  it  unnecessary  to  further 
describe  the  plan  of  works  here  recommended,  except  to  say  that 
wherever  deemed  advisable  the  canal  can  be  covered  with  plank  flooring 
to  obviate  danger  and  remedy  inconvenience  of  crossing. 

We  have,  therefore,  the  following  estimate  of  concrete  work,  excava- 
tion, and  earth  work,  and  probable  cost  of  construction: 

From  Reservoir  to  Edwards  Creek,  7,290  cubic  feet  concrete $1,458  00 

From  Edwards  to  Thompson  Creek,  47,100  cubic  feet  concrete...  9,420  00 

From  Thompson  Creek  to  Petaluma,  103,540  cubic  feet  concrete..  20,708  00 

Excavation  and  embankment,  14,860  cubic  yards,  at  15  cents 2,229  00 

Lumber  for  bridges,  22,000  feet 550  00 

Total  cost  of  Sunny  Slope  system.. $34,365  00 

The  second  system  of  relief  that  we  shall  propose  for  the  care  of 
flood-waters  of  Reservoir,  Edwards,  and  Thompson  Creeks  will  be  con- 
structed in  such  a  manner  as  to  concentrate  all  of  the  waters  of  these 
creeks  on  the  line  of  Eighth  Street  and  thence  to  tide  water. 

The  waters  of  Reservoir  and  Edwards  Creeks  will  be  permitted  to  flow 
2— P 


18      PLANS  FOR  PROTECTING  PET  ALUM  A  FROM  OVERFLOW  WATER. 

in  their  present  channel  to  a  point  about  200  feet  south  of  the  south 
line  of  Eighth  Street,  at  which  point  they  will  be  conducted  into  an 
open  concrete  storm  sewer  to  G  Street,  there  to  join  the  waters  of  Thomp- 
son Creek,  as  shown  on  map  herewith  presented. 

The  waters  of  Thompson  Creek  will  be  permitted  to  flow  through 
their  present  channel  to  a  point  near  the  south  line  of  Eighth  Street,, 
where  they  will  be  introduced  into  a  concrete  storm  sewer,  which  will 
conduct  them  to  the  east  line  of  G  Street,  and  thence  along  the  east 
line  .of  G  Street  to  tide  water  in  Petaluma  Creek. 

The  greatest  width  of  waterway  in  storm  sewer  at  the  top  of  surface 
thereof  will  be  14^  feet,  which,  together  with  concrete  or  rock  work,  will 
require  16^  feet  in  width  for  construction. 

To  avoid  expensive  covering,  we  would  locate  the  storm  sewer  on  the 
east  side  of  the  street,  immediately  under  the  sidewalk,  and  cover  the 
same,  making  the  covering  serve  the  purpose  of  a  sidewalk. 

The  street  crossings  must  be  covered  with  bridge  work.  For  this  pur- 
pose we  recommend  four  (4)  inch  plank  resting  on  3x14  stringers,  rest- 
ing on  the  top  of  the  concrete  walls  of  the  same  sewer.  All  other 
portions  of  the  sewer  to  be  covered  with  two  (2)  inch  plank,  thoroughly 
laid  and  spiked  to  longitudinal  pieces. 

The  waters  of  Edwards  and  Reservoir  Creeks  will  be  introduced  into 
Thompson  Creek  by  a  storm  sewer  4  feet  on  base  of  waterway,  6  feet 
wide  on  surface,  and  running,  during  extreme  floods,  water  5  feet  in 
depth. 

We  have,  therefore,  as  an  estimate  of  the  probable  cost  of  construction 
of  G  Street  system,  the  following: 

99,375  cubic  feet  concrete  or  rock  work,  at  20  cents _ $19,875  00 

10,121  cubic  yards  excavation,  at  15  cents 1,518  15 

102,270  feet  lumber,  at  $25  per  M _ 2,556  75 

Total  probable  cost $23,949  90 

The  above  estimate  for  price  of  lumber  is  presumed  to  cover  all 
expense  of  delivering  and  placing  the  same  in  the  flooring  or  bridges. 

No  estimate  is  here  included  for  superintending  and  engineering,  but 
the  figures  are  believed  to  be  sufficiently  great  to  cover  all  possible 
expense,  and,  if  judiciously  managed,  the  work  may  cost  much  less. 

It  must  be  ever  borne  in  mind  that  the  storm  sewer  here  recommended 
is  intended  for  storm-waters,  and  storm-waters  alone.  No  sewage  must 
be  permitted  to  enter  it.  There  is  no  means  provided  for  flushing  it,  and 
it  would  become  a  filthy  deposit,  without  hope  of  relief,  should  it  be 
used  for  sewage  purposes. 

All  storm-waters  may  be  introduced  into  it  from  street  grading  with- 
out fear  of  injury,  but  the  city  must  be  provided  with  other  sources  of 
discharge  for  sewage  matter.  Pipes  and  drains  from  houses  must  be  led 


PLANS   FOR   PROTECTING    PETALUMA    FROM    OVERFLOW  ,  \Vx-Tl^.  ,  19 


into  closed  sewers,  which  will  conduct  the  disease-breeding  matter  to  a 
safe  depository. 

By  construction  of  this  system  of  storm  sewers  the  city  will  be  enabled 
to  lay  sewer  pipes  of  minimum  capacity  and  at  a  very  slight  cost. 

We  believe  that  a  system  such  as  here  recommended  will  at  all  times 
maintain  a  clean,  unobstructed  channel,  located  so  as  to  render  no 
inconvenience. 

In  conclusion,  we  regard  it  proper  to  remark  that  the  cost  of  material 
and  labor  upon  which  our  estimates  are  based  is  figured  as  close  to  our 
knowledge  of  the  cost  of  this  class  of  work  as  the  circumstances  will 
permit. 

Should  the  plans  herein   recommended  be  adopted,  the  work  and 
material  should  be  supplied  under  contract,  when  it  may  be  ascertained 
that  the  works  can  be  constructed  at  a  less  cost  than  herein  estimated. 
Trusting  that  the  plans  and  information  presented  in  this  report  will 
serve  to  guide  the  citizens  of  Petaluma  to  a  permanent  relief  from  the 
effects  of  floods,  we  submit  the  same. 
Very  respectfully, 

J.  R.  PRICE, 

Chief  Engineer. 
M.  A.  NURSE, 

Assistant. 
SACRAMENTO,  November  30,  1895. 


OFFICE  OF  THE  CITY  CLERK,  ) 

PETALUMA,  CAL.,  March  26,  1895.  \ 

To  His  EXCELLENCY  JAMES  H.  BUDD,  Governor  of  the  State  of  California: 
SIR:  I  am  instructed  by  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  City  of  Petaluma, 
to  forward  for  your  consideration  the  accompanying  resolution,  and  in 
explanation  thereof,  to  say  that  the  authority  for  directing  the  survey 
therein  requested  to  be  made  is  conferred  upon  you  by  an  Act  of  the 
Legislature.  (See  Statutes  of  California,  1893,  page  345.) 

It  is  not  the  desire  nor  intention  of  this  city  to  ask  the  State  to  under- 
take the  work  that  may  be  recommended  to  be  done  by  the  Commis- 
sioner of  Public  Works;  but  to  get  from  said  officer  a  comprehensive 
plan  for  taking  care  of  the  flood-waters  that  annoy  us  and  damage  the 
property  of  our  citizens. 

Trusting  you  will  give  this  subject-matter  your  earnest  and  earliest 
consideration,  I  am,  sir, 

Respectfully  yours, 

THOMAS  MACLAY, 

City  Clerk. 


20          i  i  A.N  -  KOI.    '.'ur.r:. -fTiNc;  I'KTAI.TMA   KKOM  OVERFLOW  WATER. 

RESOLUTION. 

By  President  Drees,  seconded  by  Mr.  O'Reilly: 

Resolved,  That  the  Governor  of  the  State  of  California  be  and  he  is  hereby  respectfully 
requested  to  direct  the  Commissioner  of  Public  Works  to  cause  an  examination  and 
survey  to  be  made  in  the  City  of  Petaluma,  with  the  object  of  devising  a  scheme  look- 
ing to  the  proper  work  to  be  performed  for  the  stopping  of  damage  to  property  in  this 
city  by  reason  of  the  overflow  of  the  waters  of  Petaluma  River  and  other  streams 
tributary  thereto. 

Adopted. 


EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT,  ) 

STATE  OF  CALIFORNIA.    \ 

Respectfully  referred  to  the  Commissioner  of  Public  Works,  with  the 
request  that  he  look  into  the  matter. 

JAMES  H.  BUDD. 


14  DAY  USE 

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